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Fernando Montiel isn't taking an easy fight as he moves up to 122 pounds, as the Mexican three-division titlist will face Nehomar Cermeno on June 25 in Mexico.
Montiel (44-3-2, 34 KO) is coming off of a bad second round TKO loss to Nonito Donaire on February 19, in what appears to have been his final fight as a bantamweight. Going into the fight, Montiel said he was looking to move up in weight win, lose or draw. Cermeno (20-3, 12 KO) has lost three of his last four, but all were disputed decisions against Anselmo Moreno (twice) and Victor Terrazas. If Montiel isn't recovered from the Donaire loss, it could be a long night, because Cermeno can be tricky.
With the move to 122, Montiel is targeting WBC titlist Toshiaki Nishioka for later this year. But for now it appears that countryman Rafael Marquez will get to Nishioka first. Marquez has scrapped a June tune-up date entirely, and says he's lined up to face Nishioka in October, in Las Vegas.